Sunday, April 21, 2013

Attorneys disciplined when employees steal money from clients

In two recent cases, attorneys have been disciplined when employees stole money from clients. In one case, it was a paralegal and in the other it was a secretary (who also happened to be the attorney's wife). The key to remember here is that in these cases, discipline is not imposed as a form or vicarious liability. The attorneys are not disciplined for the other person's misconduct. The attorneys are disciplined for their own misconduct in not having mechanisms in place to supervise or control in a way that would prevent the misconduct of the employees. Read more about these recent cases here and here.